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BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH 



TOWN OF BOYLSTON ; 



COUNTY OF WORCESTER ; 



FROxVI ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME. 



BY MATTHEW DAVENPORT 



LANCASTER: 

PRINTED BY CARTER, ANDREWS, AND COMPANY. 

1831. 
C 



\*. i 






<3 



\, 






HISTORY OF BOYLSTON, 



Could I have anticipated the obstacles that have, at almost every 
step, presented themselves, in the prosecution of an attempt to com- 
pile a brief history of the dwelling place of my ancestors — some of 
which at first appeared almost insuperable — they would have been 
more than sufficient to have prevented the undertaking. The ter- 
ritory now comprising this interior and obscure town having been 
comprehended within the limits of two adjacent towns, its history 
must necessarily be blended with that of the towns from which it 
was taken, and the labor and difficulty of obtaining correct informa- 
tion of its first settlement be thereby increased, especially as the 
early records of one of these towns are not to be found.* 

Add to these the extreme uncertainty of traditionary accounts 
obtained from the aged inhabitants, and you will have some idea, 
my fellow-townsmen, of the task I hav 3 undertaken, in endeavouring 
to rescue from oblivion the history of our fathers, or rather that 
small portion of it which has not already been borne down the cur- 
rent of time into the ocean of forgetfulness. But considering it a 
debt of gratitude due to the memory of those who first felled the trees 
on which now wave our fields of grain, to transmit their names and 
story to their descendants, and having spent some time in procuring 
the few materials that were accessible, and being also encouraged 
by friends, I commit the following account, " with all its imperfec- 
tions on its head," to the candor of my townsmen ; trusting that 
others into whose hands it may chance to fall, and who are not partic- 
ularly interested in our local concerns, will excuse its numerous faults. 

Situation, fyc. This town is situated forty miles from Boston, 
nearly due west, and six miles and three quarters north east from 
Worcester, and is bounded as follows, viz : — Beginning at a corner 
of West-Boy lston, Boylston, and Shrewsbury, thence by Shrewsbury, 

* Lancaster. 



6 THE HISTORY OF BOYLSTON. 

south seventy-four and a half degrees east, one hundred and thirty 
rods ; north seventy-three and a half degrees east, two hundred and 
seventy-live rods ; south seventeen degrees west, thirty-five and a 
half rods; north eighiy one degrees east, one hundred and seventy 
rods ; north twenty-eight and one third degrees east, one hundred 
and ninety rods ; north seventy-two degrees and fifty minutes east, 
three hundred and seventy-three rods ; south forty-one and a half 
degrees east, sixty-eight rods ; south sixty-two and a quarter degrees 
west, forty-three rods, to a large rock ; south five degrees west, thir- 
ty-fire rods to a road ; north eighty and a half degrees east, one 
hundred and twelve rods ; south ten and a third degrees east, forty- 
five rods ; south forty-six and a fourth degrees east, thirty-two rods ; 
south sixty-two and half degrees east, twenty-nine rods to Northbo- 
rougli corner ; thence by the town of Northborough, north eighteen 
degrees east, eight hundred and seventy-two rods to Berlin corner ; 
thence by the town of Berlin north twenty-seven and a fourth de- 
grees west, one hundred and forty-two rods ; thence north seventeen 
degrees west, four hundred and eighty rods to Lancaster and Berlin 
corner ; thence north sixty-two degrees west, three hundred and 
eighty-eight rods to the Nashaway River ; south, eighty-three degrees 
west, four hundred and twenty-four rods to Sterling corner ; thence 
south eighty-three degrees west, two hundred and sixty-eight rods 
to West-Boylston corner ; thence by West-Boylston south seventy- 
five and a half degrees west, two hundred and nine rods ; south 
twenty-seven and half degrees west, four hundred and ten rods 
through Christopher Smith's house to elm trees on the interval of 
Ben]. Lamed ; south two and half degrees east, one hundred and 
ninety-two rods, crossing the river to Danforth corner; south twenty- 
seven and a half degrees west, two hundred and thirty-nine rods to 
Calvin Dunton's ; south forty-eight minutes east, seventy-two rods ; 
south eight and half degrees west, six hundred eighty-eight rods to 
first bound, — containing twelve thousand two hundred and forty- 
three acres, or nineteen and one eighth square miles ; one hundred 
and ninety acres and one hundred and thirteen rods of which are 
county and town roads, and eighty-four acres are covered with four 
ponds of water. The northerly aud northeasterly part of this town, 
bounded southerly by a line drawn from a monument on the hill 
northerly of the dwelling-house of Deacon Robert Andrews, jun. 



THE HISTORY OF BOYLSTON. i 

thence easterly across the river, and running near the dwelling-house 
ofCapt. John Howe, and southerly thereof to Northborough was 
comprehended within the limits of the original grant to the town of 
Lancaster, by Sholan, sachem of the Nashaways, whose place of res- 
idence was near Waushacum Ponds, now Sterling, in 1643. The 
title to a very small tract in the northerly part of the town, which 
was included in Lancaster new or additional grant, is derived from 
George Tahanto, nephew of Sholan, by the following deed, viz : — 

" Know all men by these presents that I, George Tahanto, Indian Sagamore, for and 
in consideration of what money, namely, twelve pounds, was formerly paid to Sholan, 
my uncle, sometime Sagamore of Nashuah, for the purchase of said township, and also 
forty-six shillings formerly paid by Insigne John Moore and John Houghton of said 
JNashuah to James Wiser, alias Quenepenitt, now deceased, but especially for and in 
consideration of eighteen pounds paid part, and the rest secured to be paid, by John 
Houghton and Nathaniel Wilder, their heirs, executors and assigns forever, a certain 
tract of land on the west side of the westward line of Nashuah township, adjoining to 
said line, and butts southerly for the most part on Nashuah Hiver, bearing westerly 
towards Wachusett Hills, and runs northerly as far as Nashuah township, and which 
lands and meadows, be it more or less, to be to the said Insigne John Mooer, John 
Houghton and Nathaniel Wilder, their heirs and assigns, to have and to hold forever. 
And I, the said George Tahanto do hereby promise and engage to procure an order 
from the honored General Court, for their allowance and confirmation of the sale of 
said lands as aforesaid, and also that I will shew and mark out the bounds of said land 
in convenient time, not exceeding four months, and also to make such deeds and con- 
veyances, as may be necessary for the confirmation of the premises, and also that I the 
said George Tahanto do by these presents fully ratify and confirm, all and every, the 
said township of Nashuah, alias Lancaster, to the inhabitants and Proprietors thereof 
according as it was formerly granted to them or their ancestors by my uncle Sholan 
and laid out to them by Ensign Thomas Noyes and confirmed by the Hon. General 
Court. For the performance of all the abovesaid, I the said George Tahanto have set 
my hand and seal this twenty-sixth day of June, in the 13th year of the reign of our 
Sovereign, Lord William the Third, over England, &c. King, Annoque Domini 1701. 

GEORGE TAHANTO, his O mark. 
MARY AUNSOCAMUG, her ) mark. 
Sinned and sealed in presence of 

JOHNWONSQUON, his ) mark 

JOHN AQTIlTTICUS.his I mark. 

PATER PUCKATAUGH, his P mark. 

JONATHAN WILDER. 

JOHN GUILD." 

The remainder of the territory, being, perhaps, about three fourths 
of the whole town, was a part of Shrewsbury, and incorporated into 
a parish, Dec. 17, 1742, and the whole was incorporated into a town, 
including part of what is now West-Boylston, by an act of the Gen- 
eral Court, bearing date, March 6, 1786. The town is irregular in 
its shape being nearly that of a trapezium. 

Surface, Soil, and Productions. This town is rather broken and 
uneven, but not hilly ; Diamond Hill, half a mile southwest of the 
meeting-house being the most considerable eminence in the town. 
There are three undulations or swells of land in this town ; one of 



b THE HISTORY OF BOYLSTOfl. 

them, extending across the south-east part of the town, is part of the 
range of high lands extending from Bolton to Shrewsbury ; the oth- 
ers, in the south-west and north-west sides of the town, extending 
into West-Boylston. These swells are perhaps the strongest and 
most valuable lands in the town, especially as grazing lands. In 
the south-west part of the town are some pine plain lands which 
produce good crops of the several kinds of small grain, wheat excep- 
ted, with comparatively little labor. Rye and oats may be consid- 
ered the staple of this section of our territory. On Muddy Brook is 
a large tract of meadow ; and on the Nashaway some of the most 
fertile interval in the Commonwealth ; a more particular description 
of which will be given in connexion with a description of that river. 
The wood on the high lands is of the various kinds of oak, walnut, 
chesnut, and some pine ; and on the interval, the several kinds 
aforementioned except chesnut, with the addition of maple, elm, and 
button-wood : the growth of the last mentioned is very rapid, and 
it is believed that a forest of five acres of these trees, after having 
fifteen years undisturbed growth, would forever after furnish fuel 
sufficient for the use of a common farmer's family. 

Ponds, Rivers, and Brooks. Of the former of these there are 
four in this town ; the largest of which is called, very appropriately, 
Rocky Pond. This is in the east part of the town, and contains 
forty-five acres, according to the late survey of the town taken by 
Mr. Gardner Smith, by order of the selectmen, in obedience to a 
resolve of the Legislature of the Commonwealth passed at the Janu- 
ary Session, A. D. 1830. There is an outlet on the east side of this 
pond, falling into Cold Harbour Brook in Northborough. This is a 
good fish pond,especially for pickerel, the taking of which through the 
ice forms a very pleasant, customary, and often profitable diversion.* 
All the others are situated in the south-west part of the town ; the 
largest of which contains twenty-three acres, and is denominated Pout 
Pond. The next in size is a pond well stored with fish, containing 
eleven acres, called Sewall's Pond,t from which there is an outlet 
into the last mentioned pond ; also another outlet on the southerly 
side, on which Banister's Mills are situated, which runs through 

* Mr. Whitney in his History of the County of Worcester, states, " that this pond 
contains thirty-six acres from actual survey." He takes notice only of the above and 
Sewall's Pond. 

t The same Rev. author remarks, that " this pond is large, containing an hundred 
acres, perhaps, or more ;" making it, at least, nine timee as large as it actually is. 



THE HISTORY OF BOYLSTON. 'J 

part of Shrewsbury into Long Pond. The only remaining pond con- 
tains five acres only, and is known by the name of Spruce Pond. 
The only river running through this town is the south branch of the 
Nashaway, which enters it on the west, having been formed about 
one and a half miles further west in the town of West-Boylston by 
the confluence of the Quinepoxet from the south and Stillwater from 
the north, runs in a very circuitous course almost six miles in the 
town, when a straight line would probably be less than three. Its 
direction is south-east as far as Scarbridge, when it changes its di- 
rection and runs north-easterly till it meets the line of Lancaster. 
The ridges in some places, on one or both sides, approximate near 
to the river ; at others, receding from it, leave a body of interval of 
unequal width, much of which is usually overflowed in the spring 
and autumn, leaving a sediment which contributes greatly to the 
fertility of the soil. This interval is equally well adapted for gra- 
zing and arable lands, yielding, with much less labor than is required 
for the high lands, good crops of the various productions common to 
this vicinity. A view of the luxuriance of these intervals from the 
road leading from Beaman's Tavern in West-Boylston to Scarbridge, 
in the months of June and July, is exceeded by few landscapes in 
the county. There are several shagbark orchards on these intervals 
which in some seasons are the most profitable orchards in the town.* 
This town is well watered, generally ; there are numerous 
brooks and rivulets in every section of the town, falling into the 
Nashaway, &,c. The most considerable of these are Muddy Brook, 
arising in Pine Swamp, near the meeting-house, called at first 
Madagascar Brook ; and running southerly a mile or more, changes 
its direction, running westerly till it comes near to Mr. Calvin 
Dunton's, where it receives another small brook from the west, and 
again changing its course to the north-east falls into the river at 
Scarbridge. On this brook have formerly been saw-mills. Two 
considerable brooks enter the town at the interval, both on land 
of Addington K. Davenport, and running less than a mile easterly 
fall into the river. Another brook enters from the north on land of 
Capt. Lambert Lamson, and running southerly upwards of two miles 
falls into the aforesaid river below Scarbridge. Another of the larg- 
est and longest brooks, called Mill Brook, rises in the East Woods 

* Mr. Whitney says the butternut is the natural growth of these intervals ; this 
appears to be a mistake. 



10 THK HISTORY OF BOYLSTON. 

and running westerly, perhaps four miles, falls into the Nashaway on 
land of Hugh Moore. On this stream are two saw-mills and a grist-mill. 
A hrook arising near David Hastings', and running southerly , falls 
into Sewall's Pond. On this brook is also a saw-mill. Another 
small brook, arising in the East Woods aforementioned, runs into 
Berlin ; and one, arising near Capt. Howe's brick-kiln, empties into 
the Nashaway near Mr. Samuel Kendall's. 

Geology. This has not been explored. There are numerous 
indications of minerals in many places, particularly near the meet- 
ing-house. Sulphate of iron and chrystalized quartz are known to 
exist; the latter on Diamond Hill, aforementioned, so called, says 
Rev. Mr. Whitney, " from the great number of stones upon it which 
look like diamonds, and which might be of use and importance if 
properly attended to."* On land of Mr. Asaph Andrews, near 
the meeting-house, are indications of a slate quarry. Excellent clay 
for the manufacture of bricks is found in several places. In many 
parts of the town, particularly the east, are numerous quarries of 
stone with straight edges, suitable for underpinning, and step-stones> 
or building stone. Coal, resembling the Worcester, is found on 
land of William H. Moore. 

Principal Roads and Bridges. The two principal roads are the 
county road from the west, which passes through the northwest, 
north, and northeast parts of the town, a distance of about three 
and a half miles, crossing the river at Sawyer's Mills, and thence to 
Berlin. A stage now runs on this road from Boston three times a 
week ; and the mail arrives three times every week from the east, 
and the same number from the west. It is believed that the most 
direct and level route for a road from Boston to Northampton is 
over this road ; and a petition is now pending before the County 
Commissioners for this county for the location of a road from the 
line of the county near Ware Factory Village, through Barre, Rutland, 
Holden, West-Boylston, and to Middlesex line. The other princi- 
pal road commences also on the west side of the town and passes 
over Scarbridge, and by the meeting-house to Northborough. The 
two principal bridges are those over the river at Sawyer's Mills, and 
at the Scar, one mile west of the meeting-house, both of which have 



* On the summit of this hill the author plucked a couple of ripe and line flavoured 
strawberries, the 17th day of November, looO. 



THE HISTORY OF BOYLSTON. 1 1 

been already mentioned. The post-office is near the first named 
bridge. Capt. Eli B. Lamson is the post-master. 

Settlement of the Town. This town, notwithstanding with its 
present name and limits, it is of recent date ; West-Boylston having 
been incorporated with a part of its territory so late as 1808, and 
having been first incorporated in 1786, has high claims of antiquity 
for that part of it which at first was a part of Lancaster, the oldest 
town in the county. The Sawyer family in this town are the de- 
scendants of Thomas Sawyer, who came to Lancaster, either in the 
year 1647, or soon after, and as soon as any except John Prescott. 
It is uncertain when Thomas first settled in that part of Lancaster 
now Boylston, at or near the place called Sawyer's Mills, but he made 
his will there in March, 1705 — 6, and probably died soon after. 
He had a numerous family,* one of whom (Ephraim) was killed 
by the Indians in 1675 — 6.f Five sons survived him, viz : — 
Thomas, | James, Joshua, Caleb, and Nathaniel. Thomas, senior, 
was the common ancestor of all of that name who live in this town, 
Lancaster, Bolton, Sterling, &,c, who though not so numerous as 
the seed of Abraham, constitute no inconsiderable portion of the 
population of those towns. Amongst the early settlers, though no 
one can be traced so far back as the family of Sawyers, we find the 
names of Bennett,§ Stone, || Bigelow,^ Hastings,** Taylor,ttBall,|$ 

* See Willard's History of Lancaster, f Harrington's century sermon, 1753. 

\ Thomas Sawyer with his son Elias were taken by the Indians in 1705, and carried 
to Canada ; Sawyer offered the French Governor to erect a saw-mill on Chamblee 
River, upon conditions that he should obtain the ransom of himself, son, and John Biglo, 
who was taken with them ; but the Indians refused to accept any ransom for Sawyer, 
and having bound him to a stake, resolved to have the savage satisfaction of seeing 
him suffer the most cruel and lingering death. At this moment a Friar suddenly ap- 
peared and told them that he held in his hands the keys of Purgatory, and that unless 
they immediately released their prisoner, he would unlock the gates and cast them in. 
This so excited their fears, that they loosed him, and he finished the mill and returned. 
See Harrington, and Whitney. 

§ This family was probably from Watertown. || From Andover. 

IF John Eigelow, (as the name is now spelt) was grandson of John Bigelow who was 
taken captive by the Indians, with Thomas Sawyer and his son, in 1705. He was from 
Watertown. 

** The descendants of this family are the most numerous in this town of any of the 
fir6t settlers. They were of Newton. 

tf The first settler of this name was F.leazer. He was of Marlborough, and settled 
on the farm now owned by Rev. Ward Cotton ; it is not known precisely at what period, 
but there is some reason to believe a number of years before any other settlement near 
where the meeting-house now stands. There are none of the name now in the town, 
but many of his descendants in the female line, viz : the numerous family of Flugg, 
and many others. 

tt This family was from Watertown, and probably the second that settled here. 
Descendants numerous. 



12 TI?R HISTORY OF BOYLSTON. 

Newton,* Keyes,t Temple, f Howe,§ Bush,|| Davenport/] Flagg,** 
Wheeler,tt and some others. It is not known that our ances- 
tors ever were visited by the tomahawk and scalping-knife of 
the red men in a hostile manner ; they had two garrisoned houses, 
or stockade forts, standing near the present dwelling-house of Jotham 

* There are none of the descendants of this family known to be now living in the 
town. They probably reside in Shrewsbury. From Marlborough. 

t There are several of this name among the first settlers. They came here from 
Marlborough about 1720, and owned a large tract of land in the south part of the town. 
They seem, in some respects at least, to have been a distinguished family amongst 
the early settlers, as will appear in the sketch of Ecclesiastical history of the town. 
There are now none of this name in the town, but their descendants are numerous in 
YVest-Boylston, and probably in Shrewsbury. 

\ This family was likewise of Marlborough, and settled in the south-west part of 
the town. This is also a numerous family, living in this town and in West-Boylston, 
&c. This appears to have been an influential family. 

§ This family was originally of VVatertown, and is descended from John How, Esq. 
■who came from Warwickshire in England, who was connected with Lord Charles 
How, Earl of Lancaster in the reign of Charles I. There are many descendants of this 
family, now living in this place. See Allen's History of JNorthborough. 

|| John Bush, the first of this name who came here, was from Marlborough. He 
was probably here as early as any one who settled near the meeting-house except Ele- ' 
azor Taylor. Jotham Bush, Esq. now resides on the same farm, and is grandson of 
John. 

IT This family, which is numerous in this town, is descended from Rev. John 
Davenport, who emiorated from England and settled in JNew-Haven about the year 
KJ37, and who came to Boston in 1GG7, being GG years of age, and was installed over 
a church there, which caused a separation in the church and was the origin of the 
Old South Church. A large tract of land was laid out to his son Richard in 1G58, and 
confirmed to him by act of the General Court in the following year, which confirmation 
is as follows : — 

At a General Court of Election held at Boston 11th of May 1G59. The Bounds 
of Richard Davenport his Farm Laid out in the year Sixteen hundred Fifty and 
Eight according to the Order and Grant of the General Court of the Massachu- 
setts in America being measured in the presence of the Committee John Prescot 
and Jonas Fairbanks in manner following, First Beginning at a Great white Oak, being 
in the South Line of Lancaster Bounds which said Oak being three quarters of one 
Mile and forty Perches to the Eastward of Lancaster Southwest angle Running We 
say upon a West North West Point One hundred and Seventy Rods then making an 
Angle running upon a West and by Worth Point One Mile one Quarter and Seventy 
five Rods, there making a right Angle passing over the River running a Line, fifty Rods 
in length, there making an Angle and running South East and by South, one mile and 
one hundred and Twenty Rod, there making an angle at a great Pine Tree and running 
from thence North East and by East one mile and Eighty Rods which Line periods at 
the white Oak where We first began, all which Lines so drawn out, contains Six hun- 
dred acres And also laid out Fifty acres more, which said Fifty acres is part of the 
farm Granted to Capt. Davenport! and lyeth a mile distant from the North West angle 
of the aforesaid Farm JOHN PRESCOT 

JONAS FAIRBANKS 
The Court approovs of this Return 

A true Copy as appears of Record Examined 

JOS. MARION Depty. Secry. 

This tract includes the greater part of the farm formerly owned by the late Nathaniel 
Davenport, who was the first actual and permanent settler in the N. W. part of the 
town, and extended into West-Boylston, far enough west, to include most of the farm 
of the late Ezra Beaman, Esq. The above named Richard Davenport was killed by 
lightning in 1665, on Castle Island, of which he was commander. Some parts of the 
aforesaid tract of land are now in the hands of the seventh generation. 

■** This family came from Concord. 

tf Wheeler was probably from Watertown. There are none of his descendants now 
in the town. 



THE HISTORY OF BOYLSTON. 13 

Bush, Esq., and near the residence of Mr. Levi Whitney. The first 
settlers carried fire-arms into their fields of labor, and many false 
alarms of savage incursions are believed to have taken place. One 
of the alarms was the cause of a ludicrous anecdote, said to be au- 
thentic : a lady who came from Marlborough, having prepared her 
dinner-pot by placing it on the crane, and putting her meat into it, 
was suddenly so alarmed, that she fled to Marlborough, where she 
remained a year, and returned finding her dinner preparations in the 
same situation in which she left them. It is evident that this was 
a permanent residence of the Indians, from the circumstances of 
their arrow-points and stone implements of husbandry having been 
found in various parts of the town, but particularly from the fact 
that on the interval of the Nashaway are now remaining some of 
their corn-fields and granaries ; which last are simple excavations 
of earth four or five feet deep and eight or ten feet square. From 
the most authentic traditionary accounts, we have reason to believe 
that for ten years or more, from the first general settlement of the 
town, the people were in a state of fearful apprehension from their 
savage neighbours, and probably the roaring of the winds has been 
taken for the distant savage war-whoop, and the rustling of the 
leaves for the insidious footsteps of the foe, by our ancestors ; caus- 
ing mothers to press their infants closer to their breasts, and filling 
their hearts with anxiety little less intolerable than actual captivity. 
Civil History. This is almost necessarily incorporated with the 
histories of Lancaster and Shrewsbury, especially the latter. It 
appears from the history of the town of Shrewsbury, by Andrew H. 
Ward, Esq.,* that as early as 1770 this town took a decided stand 
against the arbitrary opinions of the parent country in claiming the 
right of taxing the colonies without their being represented in 
Parliament; and in 1774 they voted " total abstinence in the use 
of tea, on which a duty is payable, and that they would be ever 
ready to do all in their power to preserve their just rights; and privi- 
leges." This principle they firmly and steadily maintained during 
the whole of the eventful period that followed, contributing cheer- 
fully their proportion of men and money. It appears by the afore- 
mentioned history, that all the persons suspected of too much loy- 
alty, except one, were inhabitants of the north parish, now Boylston : 

* Published in Worcester County Magazine for May, 182*5. 

3 



14 THE HISTORY OF BOYLSTON. 

for in May, 1775, they chose a committee " to examine Rev. 
Ebenezer Morse, William Crawford, Jotham Bush, Benjamin Fisk, 
and Timothy Ross, suspected of toryism." This committee per- 
formed their duty, accepted the acknowledgment of the three last 
named, and disarmed Rev. Mr. Morse and William Crawford, con- 
fining Mr. Morse to his parish, and Mr. Crawford to his farm. In 
1777, Bush, Fisk, and Ross fell under farther censure, about which 
time, they, together with two sons of the former, and Solomon 
Houghton, either left the states or concealed themselves in them 
so that no further measures were taken concerning them. In the 
insurrection that followed, in 1786 — 7, the north parish having then 
been incorporated, no one took an active part in favour of the insur- 
gents; five or six persons only were suspected of being friendly to 
the rebellion. Since the incorporation of the town the following 
persons have been chosen Representatives to the General Court : — 

Ezra Beaman, Esq., 1789 and 1791. 

Mr. Jonas Temple, 1787 — 88 — 90 — 92 and to 1796, inclusive. 

James Longley, Esq. from 1798 to 1810, inclusive. 

Dea. Jonathan Bond, 1811—12—13—14. 

Jotham Bush, Esq. 1815—16—17. 

Aaron White, Esq. 1818—19—21, and 23. 

Rev. Ward Cotton. 1827—29—30. 

The following are the only persons who have held the office of 
Justice of the Peace, who at any time lived in the territory now 
constituting this town, viz : 

James Longly, appointed in 1801, 1 Jotham Bush, appointed in 1817, 
Aaron White, " 1808, 1 Matthew Davenport, " 1823, 

Samuel Brigham, " 1816,) Nathaniel Davenport, " 1829. 

It is a singular fact that previous to June last, all these were 
living in the town. 

Population, Business, Fiscal Concerns, fyc. In 1810, this town 
contained 800 inhabitants ; in 1820, 902, and in 1830, but 830. 
This account is unfavourable at first view, especially as there never 
has been any epidemic that has swept off the inhabitants in great 
numbers as in some of the adjacent towns. In the year 1813, the 
spotted fever raged to some extent in this town, but it is supposed 
not more than ten or twelve died at that time ; and this is the 
greatest mortality that has occurred since the first settlement. 



THE HISTORY OF BOYLSTON. 



15 



This retrograde population will surprise the more when we take 
into view that " this town is famous for the longevity of its inhabi- 
tants," according to Whitney, which we believe to be the fact. The 
causes of this decrease of numbers may be found in the fact that 
the enterprising character of our citizens is constantly prompting 
to emigration, often by families, but oftener still by draining the 
town of many young men ; inducing them to abandon the homes of 
their fathers, for the prospect of advancing their interest in other 
places ; the local situation of the town being such as to afford little 
encouragement for mercantile or mechanical business, and the water- 
power not having yet been improved. The whole number of deaths in 
this town during twenty years, ending in 1816, being the greater part 
of Rev. Mr. Cotton's ministry, was two hundred and fifty-seven ;* 
equal to 12 17-20 annually, or about a sixty-seventh part of 
the inhabitants. During the ministry of Rev. Mr. Morse, which 
came down to 1775, no records of births or deaths can be found. 
The following aged persons are now living in the town, over 80 
years of age : — 



Mrs. Hastings, widow of Stephen Hastings, 

Robert Hudson, 

Mrs. Hudson, wife of the above, 

Capt. Jonathan Fassett, 

Nehemiah Knowlton, 

Mrs. Knowlton, wife of the above, 



Elijah Ball, 

Capt. Robert Andrews, 

Jonathan Hastings, 

Mrs. Whipple,^ 

Mrs. Cutting, C Widows. 

Mrs. Lamson, ) 



The number of dwelling-houses is one hundred and forty-three, 
one hundred and ninety-three rateable polls, and the invoice of the 
real and personal estate of the whole town the present year is 



* The least number in any year was in 1797, being only three ; and the greatest 
number in any year was in 1813, being twenty-four. This was the time the spotted 
fever prevailed. The following is a list of those who died within that period, of eighty 
years and upwards, viz : — 
Zebulon Rice died 1797, aged 80|[Stephen Flagg 



Sarah Smith ' 


1800, 


Phineas How ' 


1801, 


Thankful Whitney < 




Rev. F.br. Morse ' 


1802, 


John Stone ' 


1803, 


Mrs. Smith ' 


1807, 


Martha Bennett ' 


1808, 


Mary Harris ' 


a 


Mrs. Dunsmoor ' 


" 


Sarah Stone ' 


1809, 


Sarah Pratt ' 


" 


Judith Flagg ' 


" 


Abijah Pratt " 


1812, 


Daniel Ball " 


1813, 



81 iDea. Levi Moore 



died 1815, aged 87 



l.ucy Andrews 
Tamer Davenport 
Isaac Stone 
Submit Taylor 
Sarah Hartshorn 
Relief Earles 



83; j Mary Bennett 
87j|David Hastings 
90 'Rebekah Monro 



Margaret Gale 
Rachel Stone 
Sarah Fassett 
Dinah Hastings 



1816, 



93 



" 


" 93 


1817, 


" 82 


1820, 


" 83 


1822, 


" 83 


1823, 


87 


it 


" 84 


]f,n, 


" 91 


" 


87 


it 


87 


1830, 


86 


it 


86 



16 THE HISTORY OF JJOYLSTOX. 

$14,684, at 6 per cent. The public charges, exclusive of state and 
county, are for the making and repairing of highways about 
$580, annually. The support of the poor and incidental char- 
ges averages about $415, and the grants for the support of 
schools for the five last years averages 8420, annually. These 
charges are all defrayed by a tax upon the polls and estates in the 
town. This is almost exclusively an agricultural town ; with few 
exceptions, we can say, " when Adam delv'd and Eve span, who 
then was a gentleman." " The capitol of the citizens is invested in 
the solid ground, and they draw on a friend, who from time imme- 
morial has never failed to answer all just demands." The farmers 
are practical ones ; consequently less inclined to cultivate their 
farms for shoic than profit, and being literally working men, are not 
so much attached to agricultural societies and book farming as some 
others. From the quantity of ancient orcharding still remaining it 
appears that the first settlers here turned their attention considerably 
to the planting of fruit-trees, and for the last twenty-five years the 
attention of farmers has been again turned to that profitable branch 
of husbandry ; so that with the products of the old and young or- 
chards, the town is supplied with fruit far beyond the wants of the 
inhabitants ; and the proceeds of sales of cider and winter apples 
forms no inconsiderable item of the farmer's income. Some stone 
fruit is also sold from the orchards and gardens in this town. The 
land is generally well adapted to the rearing not only of apple-trees 
but of the several species of plums, peaches, pears, and also quin- 
ces. There is no branch of husbandry that promises a richer re- 
ward to the people of this place than the cultivation of fruit-trees; 
and there are already several orchards which furnish a great variety 
of the finest summer and winter fruit.* There are no manufac- 
tures except those of brick, by Capt. John How, and combs. 
There are three stores, in two of which are found the usual 
supplies of domestic, English, and West-India goods ; the other is 
upon the plan of total abstinence in the sale of ardent spirits. There 
is but one tavern, and never has been at any one time : there are at 
present but one saw-mill and two grist-mills in operation. The 
mechanics are, one painter and glazier, three wheel-wrights, five 
blacksmiths, six or seven shoe-makers, one cabinet-maker, and two 

* Particularly the orchards of James and Otis Longly, Asaph Andrews, and the late 
Mr. James Brewer. 



THE HISTORY OF BOYLSTON. 17 

coopers ; there is also one physician. The cause of education in 
this town has never received that attention which its importance de- 
mands ; since it is the basis on which rests the whole fabric of our 
free institutions; yet, perhaps a number equal to that of other towns 
in the vicinity, in proportion to our population, have received the 
benefits of a public education ; whose names, places of abode, pro- 
fessions, &c. here follow, viz : — 

Names. At what College. Professions. Place of Residence. 

Asa Andrews, H. U. 1783,* Attorney at Law. Ipswich. 

Matthew Davenport, H. U. 1802, do Boylston. 

James Sawyer, B. U. l«14,f Died in 1823. do Texas. 

John Flagg, II. I". 1816, Clergyman. Roxbury. 

Aaron White, Jun. H. U. 1817, Attorney at Law. Cumberland, R. I. 

Jonathan Bigelow, B. U. 1817, Clergyman. Rochester. 

Asahel Bigelow, H. U. 1823, do Walpole. 

Jonathan Longly become a member of Harvard University in 
1812 ; after remaining a year or more he was obliged from want 
of health to leave the university. He is now a clergyman in Hins- 
dale, New-Hampshire. Beside whom, Levi Bush entered Harvard 
University in 1786. But for some unknown reason did not gradu- 
ate. Joseph Bond entered the same university in 1779, and died 
before the expiration of the collegiate term. Soon after this time 
John Flagg became a member of the same university, and deceased 
in 1785, without having graduated ; on whose tomb-stone is the 
follwing epitaph, written by Rev. Ebenezer Morse, viz : — " Hie 
monumentum inter multos gemitus, multos que lachrymas, instau- 
ratur in memoria Johannis Flagg, nuper Collegii Harvardinii, Can- 
tabrigiensis, Nov. Ang. qui vita defunctus Shrevvsbriensis triginta 
die Jan. A. D., 1785 ; setat. annis virginti quatuor diebus triginta 
novo, cognatus fuit Stephani Flagg et Judith sibi uxor, juvenis, 
qui in vita praestanti ingenio, in studiis etlaboribus, indefatigatus, in 
religione, rationalis, fide Christiana validus, cognatus et cognatibus, 
magnopere dilectus, in morte, jure divino resignatus, et super omnes 
calamitates vita?, terrores lethi, et horrores sepulchri triuinphans. 
Superstes ad sedes Beuti eum sequitur, virtutibus ejus imitatur, et 
mori memento."| Daniel Andrews entered the same University 

* Harvard University, f Brown University. 

t "' This monument with many tears is erected to tke memory of John Flagg, lately a 
member of Harvard College, at Cambridge, in JNew-England, who departed this life at 
Shrewsbury, January 30th, A. D. 1785 ; aged twenty-four years and thirty-nine days. 
He was the son of Stephen and Judith Flagg, a young man of good genjous, indefati- 
gable in his studies, rational in religion, linn in the Christum faith, greatly beloved by 



18 THE HISTORY OF BOYLSTON. 

in 1813, and continued two years ; when he dissolved his connexion, 
for the purpose of going into trade. John William Bush was ad- 
mitted into Yale College, New-Haven, in 1822, and left college 
from ill health. A considerable number within 30 or 40 years have 
spent different terms of time at Leicester and other academies ; and 
four at least have received medical educations.* The reason no 
more have been liberally educated is to be sought, rather in a defi- 
ciency of means than in want of due appreciation of the value 
of science. At the present time some of the inhabitants of this 
town have caught the generous spirit that is now beginning to per- 
vade this Commonwealth on the all important subject of a more 
general diffusion of knowledge amongst the rising generation, and 
it is confidently hoped that the few who are alive to this subject 
will infuse their own zeal into the breasts of others, till there shall 
be a general attention to the improvement of our district schools in 
the time of receiving, and in the facilities of acquiring and commu- 
nicating instruction ; also in requiring superior qualifications in 
teachers, and by the system of mutual instruction. These are the 
chief means in our power, and these, if rightly improved, will serve 
very much to elevate the standard of education in the town. There 
is a social library in this town, consisting of about two hundred 
volumes, and is annually increasing. 

Miscellaneous. There were not until the present season any public 
buildings in the town except the meeting-house, which is large, 
being sixty-three feet by fifty-three, with a cupola and bell. This 
house was built in 1793, and has been recently furnished with a 
stove and painted. This building is located on the westerly side 
of the town, being but one mile and ninety-four rods from the line 
of West-Boylston, and more than three miles from Northborough line. 
This was caused by an unhappy division of the town with regard 
to the place of location, before the incorporation of West-Boylston ; 
it being then designed for the whole town. The present season 
there has been erected a town-house, built of stone, forty-five by 
thirty feet, and two stories high, and is designed for a school-room 
on the basement story, and for a townhall, and place of holding the 

his family resigned in death to the divine will, triumphing over the calamities of life, 
the terrors of death, and the grave. Let those who survive prepare to follow him to 
the mansions of the blessed, by imitating his virtues, and remembering that they must 
die." 

* Doctors Holland. Bond, Addington, and William Davenport. 



THE HISTORY OF BOYLSTON. 19 

other public meetings in the second story. The foundation of this was 
laid in the munificence of the late Ward Nicholas Boylston, Esquire, 
of Princeton, the history of which is briefly told by Rev. Ward 
Cotton in the paper deposited in the corner-stone of the house, which 
was laid, Aug. 21, 1830, viz : — " The corner-stone of this edifice 
was laid, August 21, 1830, and the house immediately after built. In 
1799, Ward Nicholas Boylston, heir of Thomas Boylston, formerly 
of Boston, but who died in England, gave to this town, on account 
of its name, forty pounds sterling; directing the town to keep it on 
interest, and add the interest to the principal until it should amount 
to a sum sufficient to erect some public building for the use of the 
town, as he should after direct. In the year of our Lord 1826, he 
visited the town, inquired into the state of his donation, and found 
it had increased to the sum of about 81000. In January, 1827, he 
died at his seat on Roxbury plains, near Boston ; and in his last 
will and testament, gave to the town of Boylston 8300 more, direct- 
ing in his will, that with these sums, both interest and principal, 
which now amounted to about 81500, there should be erected a 
substantial stone edifice, forty-five feet in length and thirty feet in 
width, two stories in height. The lower story to be used for a 
school-house, and the upper story for a town-hall. This building 
is therefore directed to be finished, and improved, according to the 
directions of the donor and for the stipulated sum of $ 1450. " God 
grant success, and save this building from destruction by devouring 
elements." 

Col. Peter Kendall, of Sterling, ) Undertakers to ( Daniel Hartshorne, of Boylston. 
Silas Bailey of Worcester. $ build the house. ( Thomas Brewer, do. 

Matthew Davenport, Esq. *) f r. - JT ^ in 

Daniel Hartshorne, I Building I ]> av,d Kendall, 

Aaron White, Esq, ( Committee. ) £ lmer , L £ rm §' „ 

Jotham Andrews, J [ Samuel Kend *", 

Nathaniel Davenport, Esq. ) a. 7a . img> „ nf C Jotham Andrews, 
Col. Hezekiah Gibbs, i ,£ ™ ™ J < Silas Hasting 



Dea. Robert Andrews, Jun. 



the Town. ) suas " astl »gs- 



On land of Mr. Reuben Dunton and Mr. Jotham Andrews, half 
a mile south of the meeting-house, part of the water issuing from the 
same springs, runs southerly into the Blackstone River, and thence 
falls into the Atlantic at Newport, R. I. and part runs northerly 
into the Nashaway, and thence into the Merrimac, falling into the 



20 THE HISTORY OF BOYLSTON. 

ocean at Newburyport. In the nortb-east part of this town is a tract 
of land extending into the southerly part of Lancaster, known by 
the name of the " Six Nations," time " whereof the memory of man 
runneth not to the contrary," from the circumstance, according to 
tradition of there having once lived families of six different na- 
tions at one time on the territory. To what six different nations 
these several families belonged, cannot now perhaps be ascertained ; 
for aught appears to the contrary Mephibosheth Bixby, and Matthew 
Middleditch, might have been two of them ; as persons of these 
names appear to have been men of some note in the first settlement 
of the town. And as the same blood as that of which the Randolph 
and Bowling families of the South boast, though perhaps not having 
flowed through the veins of a princess, is said to be blended with 
that of two or three families, it is not improbable that one might 
have been a family of natives. It is not known that there ever was 
an idiot born in the town, or that there ever was but two instances, 
one of these a very recent case, of total lunacy. 

Within the limits of Boylston, on the lowlands of the Nashaway 
and the contiguous ridges, are a great variety of valuable medicinal 
trees and plants ; amongst which are known to be the following, 
viz : the Slippery-Elm, Prickly-Ash, Dwarf-Elder, Buck-horn, Bit- 
tersweet, Liverwort, Meadow-Scurvy Grass, with a great variety of 
others. Little damage has ever been sustained by the inhabitants 
by fire ; two buildings only, both barns, have ever been burned by 
lightning.* Two dwelling-houses only have been burned, that of 
Dea. Jonathan Keyes, many years since, and that of Mr. Gershom 
Flagg, probably in 1770 : the former took fire accidentally ; the latter 
was set on fire together with his barn, which was also consumed, by 
their owner, in a state of derangement. The only other buildings 
which are known to have been burned are a carpenter's and black- 
smith's shop. 

Some of the ancient deeds having monuments called Rattle-snake 
hill, led me to make inquiry concerning these reptiles, here ; when I 
found that this town, like Northborough, was much infested by those 
snakes in " olden time," so much so that it was not uncommon for 
them to enter the houses of the inhabitants, and that Isaac Temple, 

* One of them belonging to the late Mr. John Andrews, in March, 1794.; the other 
belonging to the late. Saml. Rrigham. Esq., in or about 1799. 



THE HISTORY OF BOYLSTON. 21. 

one of the first settlers in the south-west part of the town with his 
hired men not unfrequently killed forty or fifty of them in a few 
minutes in the interim of their labours, by way of diversion. The 
inhabitants of this town have been industrious diggers in the earth 
for money ever since its earliest settlement ; but have never been 
known but once to dig far below the soil, and then but three or four 
of them were engaged delving deep for hidden treasure. About 
the time of the incorporation of the town, in the autumn of the year, 
twenty or thirty persons from the towns of Northborough, West- 
Boylston, Hubbardston, and Brookfield, upon the authority of 
dreams, began to break the earth on land of Nath'l Davenport, Esq. 
where they continued their labours occasionally for several weeks, 
till they had made an excavation eight or ten feet in depth, and, 
perhaps forty feet in circumference. The labor was principally 
performed in moon light evenings, with a table on the ground, with 
an open bible and rusty sword upon it, one man at the same time 
sitting upon the bank, with sweet apple tree or witch hazel rods in 
his hands, to inform the working men in what particular spot the 
money was : as it was believed the money had the power of locomo- 
tion, and it was therefore very uncertain whether it would remain 
sationary for any length of time. This money, for what reason is 
unknown, was supposed by these credulous and avaricious fortune- 
hunters, to have been placed there by pirates, and that some person 
was murdered and buried there to take care of it ; to appease the 
manes of this person, a dove was one day procured, by one of the 
party, and bled over the spot where the money was supposed to be, 
and sprinkled about the excavation. Profound silence was believed 
to be a sine qua noil, in obtaining the treasure. One man, while at 
work alone in the evening, struck the point of his bar, as he report- 
ed, under the bale of the kettle which contained the money, heard 
very distinctly the sound of the specie, but unfortunately at that 
moment hearing a discharge of musketry, looked up and saw on 
the brow of the hill, an army firing upon him ; the bale of the 
kettle took this opportunity to slip off the point of the bar and could 
be found no more. He was the only one that was tantalized with 
so near an attainment of his object. The writer well recollects, be- 
ing then from five to seven years of age, going one evening to see 
the money diggers operate ; on approaching the bank a significant 
4 



22 THE HISTORY OP BOYLSTON. 

shake of the head indicated that no noise was to be made. The 
countenances of the company would have been fine subjects 
for the pencil. A painter might there have seen boys on the bank, 
breathless with anxiety, expecting soon to see a pot of dollars shining 
on the bank, and a desperate struggle betwixt the workmen and 
the ghost, with countenances lit up with a faint hope of pocketing 
a small share, at least, of the cash. The faces of some of the men 
were pale with fear ; on others, deep solicitude was depicted. The 
passions of hope, fear, avarice, and anxiety might be supposed on 
such an occasion to be distinctly visible. 

Ecclesiastical. Until within a few years there has been but one 
religious society in the town, and that of the congregational sect. 
The history of this society will therefore constitute the principal 
part of the ecclesiastical concerns of the town. The church was 
gathered the 6th day of December, 1743, less than one year from 
the date of the incorporating act, consisting of nineteen male mem- 
bers.* The females, if any, are not noticed in the church re- 
cords. On the 17th day of the same December, John Keyes, 
Cyprian Keyes, and Jonathan Keyes, were elected deacons. The 
two latter accepted ; the former took time to deliberate, and there is 
no account that he afterwards accepted, but is frequently called 
deacon in the parish records. On the 26th day of the same month, 
Rev. Ebenezer Morse was ordained the first Pastor. The ordain- 
ing council were Rev. Mr. Gushing, of Shrewsbury, Mr. Parkman, 
of Westborough, Mr. Loring, of Marlborough, Mr. Prentiss, of Lan- 
caster, and Mr. Baxter, of Medfield. Mr. Morse was born in Med- 
field, March 2, 1718, O.S., graduated at Harvard University in 
1737 ; after which he read law in the office of Hon. John Chandler, 
of Worcester about one year. Nothing farther is known of him till 

* Their names were John Keyes, Cyprian Keyes, Jonathan Keyes, Kleazor Taylor, 
Ebenezer Taylor, Daniel Taylor, Jacob Hinds, Mephiboeheth Bixby, Daniel Bixby, 
Nathaniel Bixby, Jonathan Bennett, Josiah Bennett, Hezekiah Walker, Joshua Hough- 
ton, Elisha Maynard, Ephraim White, Phineus How, Oliver Keyes, and John Keyes, 
jun. Some account has been given in the preceding part of this sketch of all the 
above except the names of Bixby, Hinds, Walker, Houghton, Maynard, and White: 
and of these, those of the name of Bixby principally resided in what is now West- 
Boylston ; Hinds in the Bame place, whose descendants now live in that town ; Hough- 
ton came from Sterling and returned before his death ; Maynard lived near the meet- 
ing-house. There are none of his decendants living here at this time. Of Walker 
and White I am not able to give any account; they probably resided in the west part 
of the town. 



THE HISTORY OF BOYLSTON. 23 

his settlement. He was probably pursuing one or both of his pro- 
fessional studies. Mr. Morse was a man of good physical constitu- 
tion, and of uncommon vigor of intellect, with a mind highly im- 
proved by study. He was an excellent classical scholar and well 
skilled in his professions; it is believed that as a physician he was 
self-taught. Perhaps Mr. Morse was not inferior to the learned and 
worthy clergymen in the vicinity who were his cotemporaries. The 
first precinct committee were John Bush, Joseph Biglo, Cyprian 
Keyes, Joshua Houghton, and Abner Sawyer, and the*e was an arti- 
cle in the warrant for calling a precinct meeting, "to grant money to 
pay the ministers that shall attend our public fast, the time they 
shall be with us on that occasion." It does not appear what the 
particular occasion of this fast was. Whatever it might have been, 
it was probably a spiritual fast, rending their hearts and not their 
garments ; as at a subsequent meeting, " they granted £1 10s. old 
tenor, to pay John Bush for what he expended on the ministers at 
our fast." Mr. Morse's salary was fixed at ".£160, old tenor, a year, 
for the two first years, and then to add £10 a year till it comes to 
.£200 old tenor, and to be higher or lower as provisions should rise 
or fall, from that time forward, allowing Wheat, to be at that time, 
20s. per bushel, Rye, at 15s., Indian at 10s., Oats at 6s., in the 
North parish in Shrewsbury, and pork at 18d., in Boston, all in old 
tenor ;" with £400 settlement upon condition of his relinquishing the 
ministerial lands. The same year they purchased the burying 
ground of Mr. Eleazer Taylor, and built the meeting-house. 
These expenses, though heavy at that day, were cheerfully borne 
from a conviction of their importance. The connexion betwixt the 
Rev. Mr. Morse and his people appears to have been harmonious, and 
the parish at peace amongst themselves till about the year 1770, 
when it appears there was some excitement upon the subject of sa- 
cred music ; the songs of the temple, according to the opinion of 
some of the parish, seemed to be a fulfilling of the prophecy of 
Amos, chapter 6, verse 3. Others appeared to be well pleased with 
the good old psalmody, and to deprecate any innovation. It does 
not appear that Mr. Morse took any part in this controversy. Soon 
after this the sacred fire of freedom began to burn in the hearts of 
our fathers, and the minds of the men of those days were preparing 
for deeds of noble daring; when it was discovered by the parish 



24 • THE HISTORY Of BOYLSTON. 

that their minister was a Royalist. From this time till his dismis- 
sion the connexion between them was anything but harmonious. 
Mr. Morse, with a little policy, might probably not have been par- 
ticularly obnoxious on this account ; but his independent and un- 
yielding spirit disdained any prevarication or concealment. And 
in his public addresses to the Throne of Mercy, he would pray for 
the " king, queen, and royal family, the lords spiritual and temporal," 
with more fervor than his rebellious parishoners could bear. In 
the beginning of the year 1771, things appear to have been 
approaching a crisis ; and in June a meeting was called " to take 
into consideration the difficulties subsisting betwixt Rev. Ebenezer 
Morse and the church and people of this place, and more especially 
what the church had drawn up as reasons for their dismissing Mr. 
Morse, which are as follows, viz : — " Rev. Mr. Morse appearing so 
unfriendly to the common cause of liberty which America so much 
contends for at the present day, gave occasion for the town of 
Shrewsbury to call him to an account, by a committee of inquiry ; 
and the said Mr. Morse, when upon examination before said com- 
mittee and before said town, after said committee gave in their 
report, did so conduct and word himself that the town, as well as the 
committee, did view him as unfriendly to the common cause, and 
in consequence thereof did vote that the said Mr. Morse be disarm- 
ed and laid under other disadvantages, in consequence of which, 
together with the other difficulties subsisting, we cannot see how 
we can, in conscience, be contented with him as our pastor, and are 
of opinion that we shall expose ourselves to the displeasure of the 
Congresses, and all others that are friends and well-wishers to the 
rights and liberties of America, if we should suffer him to continue 
any longer as our pastor." The vote was then put whether Rev. 
Ebenezer Morse's pastoral office should be dissolved, and passed in 
the affirmative by a division of thirty-seven yeas to twelve nays." 
A committee was then chosen, consisting of Daniel Whitney, Na- 
thaniel Davenport, Jonas Temple, Frederic Albert, and Silas How, 
" to inform Mr. Morse that he is dismissed, and that it is expected 
he do not attempt to enter the desk any more as a minister in this 
place, and that the committee see that he do not ;" which latter part 
of their duty, it is said, they literally performed. The 25th day Sept. 
following, a precinct meeting was called, upon the petition of Dea. 



THE HISTORY OF BOYLSTON. 25 

Cyprian Keyes and others, " to see if the parish will join with the 
church in inviting some sister churches to assist in a day of tasting 
and prayer, fyc.;" and agreed to send letters missive to Holden, 
Shrewsbury and Worcester churches. These churches failed to at- 
tend, as is stated in the records, and another day was appointed, and 
voted to send to the churches in Shrewsbury, 2d in Mendon, 2d in 
Medway, 2d in Wrentham, and in Holden. These churches met, 
by their pastors and delegates, and advised to make an addition to 
the council by sending to the church in Dedham and to the church 
in Allenton* which was agreed to and adjourned to November 8th. 
Council met at that time and " after prayer by Rev. Samuel Niles, 
and vote put, after proceedings were read, whether the precinct 
would rescind the vote passed on the 15th day of June last, dismiss- 
ing Mr. Morse, and passed in affirmative. Question then put to 
dismiss Mr. Morse agreeably to the advice of the council, and pass- 
ed in the affirmative." 

Thus ended this unpleasant altercation betwixt Mr. Morse and 
the precinct. We do not discover what became of their fasting and 
prayer ; there being no account of either except the introductory 
prayer by Mr. Niles. But we do discover that they held a precinct 
meeting at that time and by the transactions of the meeting it is not 
difficult to understand what was meant by the, fyc. It is not my 
desire to exculpate Mr. Morse in the transactions of this period, or 
. to condemn the apparently insincere and unchristian conduct of the 
people ; but from these extracts from the records of both church and 
parish, nothing is discovered objectionable in the character or con- 
duct of the pastor except his political sentiments. " The very head 
and front of his offending had this extent." What those other dif- 
ficulties were does not appear. And it would perhaps be found dif- 
ficult to reconcile the whole of these transactions with principles of 
morality and plain dealing. But it is to be hoped their faults were 
in some measure incident to the times, and the spirit of liberty 
which was°equally inauspicious to civil tyranny and high church pre- 
rogative. We would tread lightly on the ashes of those who lived 
at this interesting crises, imitate their virtues, and draw the veil of 
charity over their errors.! Jan. 22, 177G, a meeting was called to 

* Meaning, probably, Abington. 
t Mr. Morse continued after this for ninny years to preach in a private house to his 
own family and a few friends, and to practice as a physician in the town and vicinity, 
till his advanced age and infirmities prevented, ;uu\ died i i January 1802, in the 84th 
year of his age. 



26 THE HISTORY OF HOYLSTON. 

see if the precinct would concur in the choice the church had made 
of Mr. Jesse Read to settle with them in the pastoral office, and 
passed in the affirmative. They also voted Mr. Read £66, 13, 4, 
annual salary, and ,£133, 6, 8, settlement. To the above votes we 
find the following protest, to wit : — " We the subscribers, inhabitants 
of Shrewsbury, do protest against the proceedings of this day for 
the following reasons, viz : the proceedings are founded upon the 
result of an exparte council against which Mr. Morse has taken 
sufficient exceptions and supported them undeniably in the public 
prints. 2d, because it is extravagant to vote large sums of money 
to candidates while they know not that they are discharged from 
paying Mr. Morse's salary, especially considering the amazing ex- 
penses of the public at the present time. 3d. because said money 
is to be paid in part, by those who cannot consistently with Gospel 
rule hear said candidate." 

This protest was signed by Jno. Crawford, Benj. Fisk, Joseph 
Biglo, Charles Biglo, Jotham Bush, Solomon Houghton, and W. 
Crawford. 

These it will be recollected were all political friends of Mr. Morse, 
except Joseph and Charles Biglo. It is remarkable that there is no 
farther account of Mr. Jesse Read on record. It ought, perhaps, 
to be remarked that Mr. Morse never considered any or all of these 
proceedings to amount to a dismission. And it is evident they did 
not, according to the rules of that time, nor would they at this. It 
is further evident that the church and people themselves did not 
consider them so ; but it shews that all power both in church and 
state is inherently in the people, and when a crisis occurs in either, 
to compel them to it, they will resume this power. Thus, they 
dismissed Mr. Morse themselves without the intervention of any 
council. 

On the 18th day of November, A. D. 1776, the precinct voted to 
invite Mr. Eleazer Fairbank to settle with them in the minis- 
try ; and voted him the same salary and settlement which they had 
voted Mr. Read ; and at" a subsequent meeting they voted to add to 
his annual salary, £3, 6, 8, and £46, 13, 4, to his settlement. This 
invitation Mr. Fairbank accepted and was ordained 26th of March 
following. The ordaining council were the Pastors of the Church- 
es in Preston, (Conn.) Weston, Worcester, Holden, Shrewsbury, 
2d in Mendon an 2d in Wrentham. 



THE HISTORY OF BOYLSTON. 27 

Mr. Fairbank, and his parish lived in peace during his ministry 
until April 23, 1763, when at his own request, he was dismissed 
from the pastoral office. In September, of the same year he was 
installed over the church and congregation in Wilmington, Vt. 
Mr. Fairbank was a native of Preston, in Connecticut. He was a 
man of respectable talents and acquirements, peaceable and unas- 
suming in his conduct and deportment. Perhaps the greatest de- 
fect in his character was a want of firmness.* On the 12th day of 
March, 1794, Rev. Hezekiah Hooper, of Bridgewater was ordained 
over the church and society in this town, with a salary of o£115, an- 
nually. The council that ordained Mr. Hooper were the pastors 
of the churches in Lancaster, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Holden, 
Sterling, Berlin, 2d in Bridgewater, 3d in Bridgewater and Marl- 
borough. The sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Sanger, of Bridge- 
water. Mr. Hooper was of the class that graduated at Harvard Uni- 
versity in 1789. He was a young man of good talents and attain- 
ments, a gentleman in his manners, and a pattern of meekness and 
humility. One of whom it might be said, — 

" I venerate the man whose heart is warm — 

Whose hands are pure, whose doctrine and whose life, 

Coincident, exhibit lucid proof 

That he is honest in the sacred cause." 

The prospects of happiness betwixt minister and people had nev- 
er been brighter than at this time ; but a thick cloud was about to 
obscure them, for he never returned to the place after commence- 
ment of the following year. Going from Cambridge to visit his 
friends at Bridgewater he was taken away by a pulmonary com- 
plaint in December, 1795. 

At the time of his ordination there were one hundred and sixteen 
members in the church in full communion. Twenty-one were ad- 
mitted by him in full communion and fifteen in covenant. In 1797, 
Rev. Ward Cotton, of Plymouth was invited to settle in the ministry 
here, who was also a graduate of Harvard University in 1793. This 
invitation was accepted and he was set apart by ordination as the 
pastor of the church and society in this town, June 7th. The or- 

* He was afterward dismissed from Wilmington, and became a Baptist, but was not 
all the remainder of his life in fellowship with that church ; being vaccillatin" in his 
sentiments upon the subject of Baptism, sometimes sprinkling infants, at others deny- 
ing that they were proper subjects, or that sprinkling was Baptism. He was for many 
years employed as a domestic missionary. He died at Palmyra. New- York in 1821 



28 THE HISTORY OF BOYLSTON. 

daiiring council were the pastors and delegates of the following 
churches, viz : those of Shrewsbury, Northborough, Holden, two 
churches in Worcester, Marlborough, Lancaster, Sterling, Harvard, 
Berlin, 2d in Boylston and 2d in Plymouth. The ordination ser- 
mon was preached by Rev. Doctor Robbins, of Plymouth. Mr. 
Cotton's salary was at first the same as that of Mr. Hooper, but in 
1809 was raised in consequence of the diminished value of money 
to four hundred and eighty-three dollars to continue for four years, 
and in 1820, it was again raised to five hundred dollars. He was 
dismissed at his own request in 1825. Mr. Cotton still lives in 
town and is the present representative to the General Court. 

During Mr. Cotton's ministry ninety-eight members were 
admitted to the church in full communion and forty-nine in cove- 
nant. During the time of his ministry the records are more perfect 
than those of the preceding pasnjrs. In the twenty-eight years of 
his ministry there were four huM^ed and one baptisms, three hund- 
red and sixty-five deaths, and" one hundred and sixty-seven 
marriages. 

Rev. Samuel Russell, of Bow, N. H. was ordained over the Con- 
gregational Church and society, June 21st, 1826 ; ordaining coun- 
cil as follows, viz — : 



Rev. Josiah Clark, Rutland. 
„ Horatio Bardwell, Holden. 
,, Peter Osgood, Sterling;. 
,, John Boardman, West- Boylston. 
Baxter Dickinson, Long- Meadow. 



Rev. Nathaniel Thayer, D.D., Lancaster, 
,, Reuben Puffer, D.D., Berlin. 
,, Joseph Allen, Northborough. 
„ George Allen, Shreiusbury. 
,, John JNelson, Leicester. 
„ Gaius Conant, Paxton. 

Mr. Russell is the present minister and his salary is $500, annu- 
ally. This settlement caused the division which had long existed 
in the parish to become more distinctly marked. And the first 
" Unitarian Society" was formed in 1827, to which the Rev. Mr. 
Cotton preaches. There are also two other religious societies in 
the town, viz : the Baptist Society, formed in 1824, and the " First 
Universalist Society," which was organized in 1828. These last 
do not support public worship at present, but a small part of the 
time. Their numbers, together with those of the Congregational and 
Unitarian Societies, are often varying. At present, one hundred, 
out of one hundred and ninety-three polls in the town, pay to the 
Congregational Society, or first parish. The other ninety-three are 
divided betwixt the other three societies, except eight or ten, who 
have united themselves with religious societies in the adjacent towns. 



S 



A BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH 

OF THE 

TOWN OF BOYL.STON; 

IN THE 

COUNTY OF WORCESTER ; 
FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME. 



BY MATTHEW DAVENPORT. 



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